Anna and Aleksandr Solovyov before the start of criminal prosecution

Criminal trial

The prosecutor's office in Perm signed an indictment against Alexander Solovyov

Perm Territory

On May 6, 2019, Aleksandr Deryshov, deputy prosecutor of the Perm region, signed the final document in which investigators summarized the charge against 48-year-old Perm resident Alexander Solovyov, suspected of practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. The case goes to court (see chronology of the case).

What exactly is Alexander Solovyov accused of? He is charged with participating in the activities of an organization banned by the court, citing the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to liquidate all 396 registered organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses. In 2017, a small group of Perm residents who in the past professed the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, on the instructions of the "E" center, having received hidden recording equipment from operatives, began to hold discussions with Solovyov about the Bible. Police Lieutenant Colonel K. Ulitin sent the recordings of these discussions for examination to the catechist of the Russian Orthodox Church, a graduate of the Perm Theological Seminary, Alexei Mosin. The expert found in Solovyov's words signs of psychological pressure on the interlocutor, which, in turn, according to prosecutors, serves as confirmation that Solovyov continued the activities of the banned organization. He was charged under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. There are no victims in the criminal case.

What is the position of the accused? According to the indictment, Alexander Solovyov does not agree with the charges, does not admit guilt, claims that he did nothing wrong, and does not understand why he is being held accountable. Refers to Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which gives the right to practice any religion personally or jointly with others. He believes that the Bible taught him self-control, helped him give up bad habits, and its study also led to other positive aspects. In addition, Alexander Solovyov did not want to explain anything, deciding to wait for the trial.

Law enforcers mistakenly mistake citizens' religion for participation in the activities of an extremist organization. Prominent public figures of Russia, the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation, the President of the Russian Federation, as well as international organizations - the European Union External Action Service, observers of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - drew attention to this problem. Jehovah's Witnesses have nothing to do with extremism and insist on their complete innocence. The Russian government has repeatedly stated that the decisions of the Russian courts on the liquidation and prohibition of organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses "do not assess the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses, do not contain a restriction or prohibition to practice the above teachings individually."

Case of Solovyev in Perm

Case History
In May 2018, a criminal case was opened against Alexander Solovyov from Perm for participating in the activities of an extremist organization. The reason for this was audio recordings made on the instructions of Center “E” by a man who previously professed the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Lieutenant Colonel Utkin sent these records for examination to the catechist of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Perm Theological Seminary. The indictment collected almost all the common myths about Jehovah’s Witnesses: “incitement to hatred”, “calls for the destruction of families”, “refusal of medical care” and others. After the search and interrogation, Aleksandr spent six months under house arrest. The prosecutor’s office asked to send the believer to a colony for 3.5 years. On July 4, 2019, the judge of the Ordzhonikidze District Court of Perm, Denis Shvetsov, found Solovyov guilty and sentenced him to a fine of 300 thousand rubles.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Perm Territory
Locality:
Perm
Suspected of:
according to the investigation he participated in religious services, which is interpreted as participating in the activity of an extremist organisation (with reference to the decision of the Russian Supreme Court on the liquidation of all 396 registered organisations of Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Court case number:
11802570030000021
Initiated:
May 22, 2018
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Perm Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-274/19
Court:
Орджоникидзевский районный суд Перми
Judge:
Швецов Денис Иванович
Case History